Racing is a Family Tradition for Team Chevy Drivers and Their Dads

It has been said that “racing gets into your blood and never gets out”. This phrase and “like father, like son” ring true for a few Team Chevy racing families. This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day by asking a few Team Chevy drivers to comment about their father/son relationships and racing.

Team Chevy driver Kasey Kahne credits his father with his interest in racing: “Because of him is why I race cars.”

Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS, is in eighth place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings going into Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. “My dad worked on sprint cars when I was little so I grew up learning about racing,” Kahne said. “He taught me about the cars, and I also wanted to race and ultimately race for my dad at some point. Because of him is why I race cars and why I got into it. He was the one who taught me first off about the cars, how they worked, how to work on them, and I enjoyed it. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years, and it’s been great having him around and having his support at all my races.”

You can watch Kasey Kahne and the rest of Team Chevy’s NASCAR drivers this Sunday in the Quicken Loans 400 beginning at 1pm EDT on TNT.

Marco Andretti, driver of the No. 25 RC Cola Andretti Motorsports Chevrolet, is in second place in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings heading into Sunday’s Milwaukee Fest at The Milwaukee Mile. Andretti is a third-generation driver: His father, Michael, won 42 Indy car races and the 1991 CART Indy Car championship; and his grandfather, Mario, is an oft-honored driver who, among other things, won 12 Formula I races and the 1969 Indianapolis 500. “We have a lot of family history in Milwaukee,” Marco said. “A pole and win would be a great Father’s Day for Dad.”

When asked recently if he thought his grandson had matured as a race driver Mario commented, “I think he has buckled down and I think focused a little more on somewhat he really needs to work on… But, it’s all about like I said experience, maybe we are late bloomers I don’t know. Again, I think he is at a point that he can definitely carry the team to a championship. I’m positive of that.”

Marco and the other IZOD IndyCar Team Chevy drivers hit the track again on Saturday, June 15th for the 2013 Milwaukee IndyFest. Tune in for the green flag at 4pm EDT on NBC Sports Network.

Wayne Taylor (center) is flanked by his sons Ricky (left) and Jordan (right), both of whom will be driving Corvette C6.Rs during next weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor will both compete in the famed endurance race (older brother Ricky [23] in the No. 50 Larbre Racing Corvette C6.R and Jordan in the No. 73 Corvette Racing C6.R); their father, Wayne, won that race as a driver, was a three-time sports-car champion, and currently owns the Team Chevy Rolex GRAND-AM Road Racing Series No. 10 Corvette Daytona Prototype (DP). “I’m very excited for Jordan and Ricky,” Wayne Taylor said. “At the same time, I know how difficult Le Mans is. It’s good for Jordan that he has one already under his belt. He can enjoy this one more. It’s a good opportunity for Ricky with a very good Corvette team. Both are under the Chevrolet brand. I’m very happy and excited for them, and I’m really looking forward to it. It was such a big part of my life, my whole family’s life, over the years. Now, having both of them driving there, I can’t thank Chevrolet enough for what they’re doing for both Jordan and Ricky. As their dad, I can only give them advice from my experience there over the years.”

Team Chevy driver Jan Magnussen (right) and son, Kevin.

Jan Magnussen, a co-driver with Jordan Taylor of the No. 73 Compuware Corvette C6.R, is a four-time class winner of the famous endurance race. His son, Kevin, meanwhile, is leading one series in championship points, and is a back-up driver for a Formula One team. “I think he learned a lot by just sitting in on every meeting and really getting to understand how F1 works,” Jan Magnussen said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for him and it’s good to see that he’s making the most of it.”

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